The absorption of vitamin B12 in megaloblastic anaemia associated with pregnancy.

The absorption of (60)CoB(12) has been studied in a group of patients suffering from megaloblastic anaemia associated with pregnancy and in a control group. The mean urinary excretion of (60)CoB(12) in the patients with megaloblastic anaemia is not significantly different from that of the control group. Five of the 30 patients showed a value towards the lower limit of normal, but the serum vitamin B(12) content in this group was within the normal range. Malabsorption of vitamin B(12) does not appear to play a significant role in the pathogenesis of this form of megaloblastic anaemia.